What to Know
- Stafford Taylor was a "John Doe" for 36 hours after arriving at UCLA Medical Center on July 4.
- Taylor is currently in an induced coma, suffering from a serious brain injury and internal bleeding.
- LA County Sheriff's Department was not available at the time of this publication, but the suspect remains at large.
A "John Doe" was found near death right next to Malibu Library on July 4, with injuries consistent with physical assault.
Thirty-six hours after arriving at UCLA Medical Center, John Doe was identified as Malibu artist, Stafford Taylor. He is suffering from a serious brain injury, and is currently in an induced coma.
Taylor originally went missing the day after he left a Fourth of July party. Friends began searching for him, and found his car parked on Pacific Coast Highway.
After being called by investigators to identify a John Doe, Taylor's friends were shocked by what they saw.
"He's battered and unconscious and has never gained consciousness. He's fighting for his life," Maria-Flora Smoller, Taylor's friend, said. "We want answers. We want to know: How does this happen?"
LA County Sheriff's Department continues to investigate.
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The beloved artist, with artwork in homes up and down the coast, has had treatment for brain injuries and internal bleeding -- which has become a heavy cost for the victim's family.
A GoFundMe page has been set up, and friends are pulling together their resources to help Taylor out.
If you would like to donate to a GoFundMe, you may do so here. Note that GoFundMe deducts 7.9 percent of all funds raised in the form of platform and payment processing charges.
